TRAF5 deficiency accelerates atherogenesis in mice by increasing inflammatory cell recruitment and foam cell formation.

RATIONALE: Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins for the TNF/interleukin-1/Toll-like receptor superfamily. Ligands of this family comprise multiple important cytokines such as TNFα, CD40L, and interleukin-1ß that promote chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. We recently reported overexpression of TRAF5 in murine and human atheromata and that TRAF5 promotes inflammatory functions of cultured endothelial cells and macrophages. OBJECTIVE: This study tested the hypothesis that TRAF5 modulates atherogenesis in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: Surprisingly, TRAF5(-/-)/LDLR(-/-) mice consuming a high-cholesterol diet for 18 weeks developed significantly larger atherosclerotic lesions than did TRAF5(+/+)/LDLR(-/-) controls. Plaques of TRAF5-deficient animals contained more lipids and macrophages, whereas smooth muscle cells and collagen remained unchanged. Deficiency of TRAF5 in endothelial cells or in leukocytes enhanced adhesion of inflammatory cells to the endothelium in dynamic adhesion assays in vitro and in murine vessels imaged by intravital microscopy in vivo. TRAF5 deficiency also increased expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines and potentiated macrophage lipid uptake and foam cell formation. These findings coincided with increased activation of JNK and appeared to be independent of TRAF2. Finally, patients with stable or acute coronary heart disease had significantly lower amounts of TRAF5 mRNA in blood compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Unexpectedly, TRAF5 deficiency accelerates atherogenesis in mice, an effect likely mediated by increased inflammatory cell recruitment to the vessel wall and enhanced foam cell formation.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 is not required for atherogenesis in mice and does not associate with atherosclerosis in humans.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) are important signaling molecules for a variety of pro-atherogenic cytokines including CD40L, TNF alpha, and IL1beta. Several lines of evidence identified TRAF6 as a pro-inflammatory signaling molecule in vitro and we previously demonstrated overexpression of TRAF6 in human and Murine atherosclerotic plaques. This study investigated the role of TRAF6-deficiency in mice developing atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Lethally irradiated low density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice (TRAF6(+/+)/LDLR(-/-)) were reconstituted with TRAF6-deficient fetal liver cells (FLC) and consumed high cholesterol diet for 18 weeks to assess the relevance of TRAF6 in hematopoietic cells for atherogenesis. Additionally, TRAF6(+/-)/LDLR(-/-) mice received TRAF6-deficient FLC to gain insight into the role of TRAF6 deficiency in resident cells. Surprisingly, atherosclerotic lesion size did not differ between the three groups in both aortic roots and abdominal aortas. Similarly, no significant differences in plaque composition could be observed as assessed by immunohistochemistry for macrophages, lipids, smooth muscle cells, T-cells, and collagen. In accord, in a small clinical study TRAF6/GAPDH total blood RNA ratios did not differ between groups of patients with stable coronary heart disease (0.034+/-0.0021, N = 178), acute coronary heart disease (0.029+/-0.0027, N = 70), and those without coronary heart disease (0.032+/-0.0016, N = 77) as assessed by angiography. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that TRAF6 is not required for atherogenesis in mice and does not associate with clinical disease in humans. These data suggest that pro- and anti-inflammatory features of TRAF6 signaling outweigh each other in the context of atherosclerosis.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1 (TRAF1) deficiency attenuates atherosclerosis in mice by impairing monocyte recruitment to the vessel wall.

BACKGROUND: Members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, potently promote atherogenesis in mice and humans. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins for this group of cytokines. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study tested the hypothesis that TRAF1 modulates atherogenesis in vivo. TRAF1(-/-)/LDLR(-/-) mice that consumed a high-cholesterol diet for 18 weeks developed significantly smaller atherosclerotic lesions than LDLR(-/-) (LDL receptor-deficient) control animals. As the most prominent change in histological composition, plaques of TRAF1-deficient animals contained significantly fewer macrophages. Bone marrow transplantations revealed that TRAF1 deficiency in both hematopoietic and vascular resident cells contributed to the reduction in atherogenesis observed. Mechanistic studies showed that deficiency of TRAF1 in endothelial cells and monocytes reduced adhesion of inflammatory cells to the endothelium in static and dynamic assays. Impaired adhesion coincided with reduced cell spreading, actin polymerization, and CD29 expression in macrophages, as well as decreased expression of the adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in endothelial cells. Small interfering RNA studies in human cells verified these findings. Furthermore, TRAF1 messenger RNA levels were significantly elevated in the blood of patients with acute coronary syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: TRAF1 deficiency attenuates atherogenesis in mice, most likely owing to impaired monocyte recruitment to the vessel wall. These data identify TRAF1 as a potential treatment target for atherosclerosis.

CD40L induces inflammation and adipogenesis in adipose cells--a potential link between metabolic and cardiovascular disease.

CD40L figures prominently in atherogenesis. Recent data demonstrate elevated levels of sCD40L in the serum of patients with the metabolic syndrome (MS). This study investigated the role of CD40L in pro-inflammatory gene expression and cellular differentiation in adipose tissue to obtain insight into mechanisms linking the MS with atherosclerosis. Human adipocytes and preadipocytes expressed CD40 but not CD40L. Stimulation with recombinant CD40L or membranes over-expressing CD40L induced a time- and dose-dependent expression of IL-6, MCP-1, IL-8, and PAI-1. Supernatants of CD40L-stimulated adipose cells activated endothelial cells, suggesting a systemic functional relevance of our findings. Neutralising antibodies against CD40L attenuated these effects substantially. Signalling studies revealed the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases and NFkB. Furthermore, stimulation with CD40L resulted in enhanced activation of C/EBPa and PPARg and promoted adipogenesis of preadipose cells in the presence and absence of standard adipogenic conditions. Finally, patients suffering from the metabolic syndrome with high levels of sCD40L also displayed high levels of IL-6, in line with the concept that CD40L may induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines in vivo in this population. Our data reveal potent metabolic functions of CD40L aside from its known pivotal pro-inflammatory role within plaques. Our data suggest that CD40L may mediate risk at the interface of metabolic and atherothrombotic disease.